Click each dot on map to view block information. Do you have large screen? Open map on full screen.
Updated with February BTO and floor plans for 1970s blocks. Next update will add floor plans for after-1980 blocks.

HDB block color legend

Blue = Blocks built by SIT (1927-1959).Pink = Blocks built originally without lifts stopping at every floor, first series of new towns (1960-1982).Red = Blocks built originally without lifts stopping at every floor, second series of new towns (1981-1993).Brown = Blocks with centralized refuse chute and lifts stopping at every floor (1992-1999).Yellow = Blocks with household shelter (1998-2007), including SERS replacement blocks (1999-2006).Green = Blocks with household shelter sold via BTO (2005-present), DBSS (2008-present), SERS (2008-present).Cyan = Blocks sold via BTO under MOP or under construction with estimated completion up to 2018.White = Blocks sold via BTO under construction with estimated completion 2019 or later.Gray = Blocks sold via DBSS, SERS, SBF, under MOP or under construction with completion date unknown.

About

I compiled HDB Database and since 2015 I offered it for sale in Excel format, being purchased by several real estate agencies as well as telecommunication and home insurance companies. The price is a bit too high for ordinary people who just need to view info about several blocks.

Now you can search here your desired block for FREE!

Drop-down boxes launched in July 2017, display year build, number of units, upgrading programmes, and few more info. A lot of crap is yet to be done. Map service added in September 2017.

To do list:– count the floors for the blocks not counted yet
– add floor plans for post-1980 blocks (you can view floor plans in HDB Floor Plans but is a bit difficult to find desired block), 1960s and 1970s blocks added in October.

Do you need additional information? Your suggestions are welcome!

Please report errors on the map!

Enquire information about a HDB block

This drop-down box show ALL buildings, standing or demolished, including multi-storey carparks and pavilions, while the above map show only standing residential buildings.

This page shows floor plans of 100 most common HDB flat types and most representative layouts. Many other layouts exists, unique layouts with slanted rooms, as well as variations of the standard layouts, these usually have larger sizes.
Looking for certain town or flat type? Use Ctrl+F to search within this page.

This article is often cited in forums or shared on FacebookPlease cite the link to main page www.teoalida.com WITHOUT /singapore/hdbfloorplans
Show to your friends ALL the articles about HDB provided on site, not just 1 page!

Should send this letter to HDB with suggestion how to make better public housing?
Citizens, add your own suggestions! Leave comments!

1930s, 1940s, 1950s – SIT era

Singapore Improvement Trust set up in 1927, public housing developments were small-scale, until Tiong Bahru started in 1936 and Queenstown started in 1952 and completed by HDB in 1960s. In 32 years, SIT built only 23,000 flats, housing 8.8% of Singapore population in 1959.

The SIT housing was similar with British housing, 2-storey terraced houses, 3/4-storey walk-up flats, and since 1950s, 7/9-storey high-rise flats, plus one 14-storey block built in Queenstown in 1956. The blocks built at just 10-15 meters apart, denser than HDB estates. List of SIT estates.

After war, SIT built mostly 2-Room and 3-Room, but 4-Room flats were built too in Alexandra North, Silat Estate and Tiong Bahru (at least), no floorplan available. To speed up construction, flats were downsized in 1955 and fewer 4-room were built. 1-Room flats were introduced in 1958, as 3-storey blocks with double-loaded corridor. SIT also built tenements (blocks with communal kitchen and toilets, opposite of “self-contained flats”), that can be built quickly for the victims of various fires.

Some floor plans of rental flats are available on HDB InfoWEB under PPHS (whole block floor plans, no dimensions).

Landed public housing

During 1950s (or even earlier), SIT also built terraced houses, two clusters survived: Jalan Bahagia (in Whampoa, 28 blocks, 200 units), Stirling Road (in Queenstown, 13 blocks, 84 units). Most units are 3-Room (originally 78 sqm) but on Stirling Road there are some 4-Room (99 sqm). Over time, the owners built additional rooms in front, rear, and side of corner units, expanding some houses to over 200 sqm according resale transactions.

On 13 February 1959 a fire started in Kampong Tiong Bahru, leaving 12.000 people homeless (source: NLB). SIT quickly cleared the area and built few 5-storey blocks with 1-Room flats and 9-storey blocks as well as terraced houses. A bigger fire in Bukit Ho Swee on 25 May 1961 left 16,000 people homeless, as coincidence HDB completed in September 1961 the Kampong Tiong Bahru flats started by SIT and moved the fire victims there, after few months of temporary housing in Queenstown. These fires helped HDB to gain popularity.

Construction of Toa Payoh New Town (first project officially called “New Town”), incorporating a town centre and several neighborhoods, started in 1965. Note: Queenstown is actually first new town.

Redevelopment of uneconomical SIT estates started in 1967, single-storey artisans quarters built by SIT in 1951-1953 at Henderson and Upper Aljunied were demolished and replaced by high-rise blocks.

In Master Plan 1958 you can see numerous terraced houses (planned by SIT and unbuilt) around Redhill and Whampoa. HDB changed housing typology to massive blocks with smaller flats and eliminated terraced houses.

1960s estates composed only by linear slab blocks (corridor style) in most common height of 10 storeys and usually with 12 units per floor, but several blocks were very long, plus 2-storey shophouses. Minimal distance between facades was not regulated, usually 15-30 metres.

HDB aimed to build 50000 dwelling units in first 5 years, so a simple brutalist architecture was chosen, in contrast with the Art Deco and Modernist themes used by SIT. Kampong clearance has been started.

Selegie House (built 1963), tallest public housing at its time (20 floors)

1967-1978 and 1982-1988 slab block with 2-Room Improved (44 sqm), 3-Room Improved (60 sqm), 3½-Room Improved (69 sqm)Most blocks of this type were upgraded with 5-6 sqm utility rooms, these utility rooms vary in shape and size so that is why I posted here original floorplans without utility room. >

1970-1978 slab block with 4-Room Improved (82-84 sqm or -88 sqm with kitchen extension), stairs for each two units.

JTC floor plans

Jurong Town Corporation established in 1968 and built 5 estates in parallel with HDB:Taman Jurong, built 1964/1969-1974, most demolished in 1990s and 2000s). Earliest blocks were built by Economic Development Board in cooperation with HDB starting from 1964, then JTC took over in 1969.Boon Lay Gardens, built 1974-1978, mixed with HDB, most demolished in 1990s and 2000s.Teban Gardens, built 1977-1978, mixed with HDB, some demolished in 2000s.Pandan Gardens, built 1978-1979, all survived.Sembawang, built early 1970s, 7 blocks, demolished in 2004.The 5-Room flats built by JTC feature 2 entrance doors!

Anyone have a floor plan of the JTC 4-Room point blocks (zig-zag ones)? Last ones will be demolished in 2013.

1970s – HDB new towns

Concept Plan 1971 featured a ring of New Towns around Central Water Catchment and a provisional plan for two MRT lines to be built by 1992.

In the second half of 1970s construction commenced for three more New Towns: Ang Mo Kio, Clementi / West Coast, Hougang (only several blocks), and for small estates like Hillview (in Bukit Batok, demolished in 2005), Nee Son (now part of Yishun), Teck Whye Estate (now part of Choa Chu Kang).
HDB also built Rural Centres, mini estates with several hundred flats to house farmers: Changi Village (considered in Pasir Ris), Kranji / Lim Chu Kang (abandoned in 2001), Punggol Road End (in Sengkang area, demolished in 2004), Seletar Road (in Serangoon area, demolished), Seletar West Farmway (in Sengkang area, demolished).

1970s generation estates were dominated by massive slab block in most common heights of 12, 13 or 16 stories and usually with 14 or 18 units per floor, most were over 100 metres long, plus point blocks of 20 and 25 storeys, and 4-storey blocks with shophouses. Minimal distance between facades was 30 metres.

Point blocks with four units per floor and taller than surrounding blocks, were completed in 1972, featuring 4-Room Improved flats (84 sqm).

First 5-Room flats (117-125 sqm) were completed in 1974, in point block form. Starting from 1978, 5-Room flats were offered also in slab block form. All 5-Room flats feature master bedroom with attached toilet with pedestal type WC, the 5-Room Improved introduced in 1979 feature also a store room.

Point blocks were built until mid-1980s, 2 with 3-Room, 26 with 4-Room and 247 with 5-room. After 1980s they still built blocks with 4 units per floor but with height similar with surrounding blocks so I have not included them in above figure.

3/4-Room Standard flats disappeared in early 1970s, Improved flats disappeared too in late 1970s. The average size rose from 60 sqm in early 1970 to 75 sqm in late 1970s estates.

Marine Parade was, and is still the most prestigious HDB estate, also the oldest HDB estate remained intact (no demolitions, no new blocks). Built since 1973, with flats leased from 1975 to 1978, it contains 8079 dwelling units in 56 blocks (personal counting), slab blocks with 2/3/4-Room Improved flats plus 17 tower blocks, each with 96 units of 120 sqm 5-Room Standard flats. Average flat size: 76 sqm, a record for its time (today average size is a little bigger due to upgrading with utility rooms and many 3-room flats adjoined.

1974-1979 point block with 5-Room Standard (114-123 sqm)
1977-1985 point block with 5-Room Improved (117-121 sqm)
Some Standard flats have long master bedroom like Improved flats. Other flats have balcony at living room. I don’t know the real difference between Standard and Improved.

1980s towns were composed by slab blocks with 10-13 floors, usually 12 floors, usually with 10 or 12 units per floor, plus the 25-storey point blocks. By unknown reasons, after 1985 only few blocks were built with more than 12 storeys. Compared with previous decade, the blocks were arranged in more rigid patterns, with corners bend to give the precinct a sense of enclosure. Most 10/12-storey blocks were perfectly aligned to east-west direction to avoid sun, while on east and west sides they are surrounded by 4-storey walk-up blocks. Minimal distance between facades was 24 metres.

Ground floor units were reintroduced, most 1980s high-rise blocks have few (usually 4) units at ground floor and the rest void deck. Most 4-storey blocks do not have void decks, but ground floor units.

In 1980 first prefabrication contract was awarded, raising the construction ratio to about 190.000 flats built in 1981-1985, the record being 67856 flats in 1984. Prefab blocks were built in 16 months, 20% faster than 20 months for normal blocks (source: Straits Times 1982). Wikipedia’s Tampines page says “Using prefabricated parts, a block of high-rise flats could be built in a month” – do not believe.

These 1980s prefab blocks with load-bearing walls can be identified by being uglier, having simple floorplan, plain external walls (unlike normal blocks which have columns visible on facade and windows pushed back). Prefab flats have lower value than non-prefab blocks, hacking walls is not allowed except a door-size opening, ceiling leaks are common.

A confusing thing: today BTO blocks use prefabricated panels too, but does not look similar with 1980s blocks, construction time is double, 3-4 years, and internal walls can be hacked. Probably they were referring that in 1980s they made blocks entirely prefab, load-bearing prefab walls.

Rising home ownership left rental blocks empty. Most 1-Room Emergency blocks built in 1960s were demolished during 1980s and new blocks with 3-Room to Executive flats were built.

The percentage of population living in public housing hit the all-time record of 87% in 1988-1990, construction ratio had to be reduced to 10000 units per year in 1989-1991 to avoid oversupply, leaving some estates unfinished, for example Yishun 4xx with its 8 blocks in middle of empty field.

Executive Apartment / Maisonette (146-150 sqm) were introduced in 1984 and replaced 5-Room Model A flats, in addition of the 3-bedroom and separate living/dining found in 5A flats, EA and EM feature an utility/maid room. 80% of Executive units were Maisonettes and 20% were Apartments.

New types of 4-Room Model A, 5-Room Improved, and Executive were introduced in 1987, the 5-Room and Executive having 3 bedrooms plus study room with sliding doors, instead of the 3 bedrooms in 5-Room plus utility room in Executive (source: Straits Times 1984).

Multi-Generation flats were introduced in 1987, on structure similar with the 3/4-Room Simplified blocks, but flats are paired two by two and reconfigured as a 3-bedroom + Studio (granny flat), having 2 entrances and a communicating door. The granny flat was not used as intended so the concept was abandoned after building 8 blocks (source: Straits Times 1986 + Straits Times 1988).

New Generation flat types were phased out around 1985, but surprisingly, few blocks with 3-Room Improved were built in late 1980s.

Rising popularity of bigger units left HDB with many unsold 3-Room and 4-Room Simplified flats, the last being built in 1989, HDB started converting these flats into Executive “Jumbo” flats (source: Straits Times 1989). Average size of new HDB flats rose from 100 sqm in 1988 to 120 sqm in 1991.

STRANGE, very few flats have leases 1990 and 1991, despite that construction rate was constant, at least 10000 dwelling units being completed each year. Number of flats with lease 1991 is about 6% of the number of flats with lease 1989 and 1992 according my analysis of HDB Resale Flat Prices database. A possible hypothesis is that HDB decided to set lease start date later than actual completion date (confirmation needed).

1982-1989 slab block with 3-Room Model A (73-75 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (105-108 sqm)
3½-Room Model A (88-90 sqm) exists but is so rare that I never found floorplan.Website visitors reported that early 4-Room Model A have different floorplan, similar in shape with 4-Room New Generation with toilets near each other, but big as 105 sqm instead of 92 sqm.

1983-1984 slab block with 5-Room Model A Maisonette (137-140 sqm, some -155 sqm) and 4-Room Model A (109 sqm) on corners (no floor plan found)
1984-1988 slab block with Executive Maisonette (144-147 sqm, some -160 sqm) and Executive Apartment (146 sqm) on cornersMany people asked me what is a 5-Room Maisonette or what is the difference compared with Executive Maisonette, the primary difference is the building year, because the two-storey Maisonettes were introduced earlier than Executive naming.

1990-1992 slab block with 4-Room Model A (103-107 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (121-123 sqm), 2 units per staircase.Except corner units, all units are 4A, units at lift level are similar with 1987-1990 blocks, but units at next level up are 4A too instead of 5I, with a huge balcony, units at remaining levels have a small balcony facing over staircase void and big balcony of below units. Staircase landing is at middle of block, making lift upgrading unfeasible. Many such blocks did not got LUP.First blocks with lifts stopping at every floor were announced in in Straits Times 1989 and was completed in 1992, featuring staggering corridors to offer privacy to at least 50% of units and direct lift access to at least 80% of units.

1990s – The modern HDB blocks

In the early 1990s extensive construction was done in Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Tampines, plus many small precints in other towns.
In the late 1990s three New Towns were started: Sembawang, Sengkang, Punggol. Construction suddenly stopped for Tampines and Pasir Ris but continued for Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Jurong East, Jurong West (Pioneer neighborhood), Woodlands.

1990s was a decade of rapid development and innovation, raising the standard of living in public housing of Singapore to a level similar with private housing in other countries:
1993 – all blocks completed in 1993 have lifts stopping on every floor now and centralized refuse chutes, and multi-storey carparks (up to 1994 some blocks have lift machine room at top floor so the flats at top floor do not have direct lift access).
1996 – introduction of yards for kitchens and by-panel main door.
1998 – introduction of household shelters and A/C ledges placed opposite of kitchen window, that double as second support for drying on bamboo poles.
2001 – first blocks competed in Punggol, a town built without corridor-facing flats
2004 – last corridor-facing flats.

1990s HDB blocks are highly decorated and grouped in precints with distinctive styles, ground car parks were replaced by multi storey car parks, this allowed higher density, taller blocks, and a lot of green space between blocks. All blocks are linked with car parks, bus stations and other facilities, with covered walkways, so no more problems if the sun is too hot or is raining. Blocks height vary between 9 and 18 storeys, most are 15 storeys. No more walk-up blocks were built. Unfortunately minimal distance between blocks was reduced to 18.3 metres (60 feet).

Since 1989 structural elements became thicker, 30 cm or more, rather than 20 cm in 1980s blocks, and more pillars per block. I do not know if HDB blocks are designed to withstand earthquakes.

Design & Build scheme was introduced in 1991, calling private architects to inject more variety into public housing designs (source), first project being at Tampines Street 24, featuring curved facades.Design Plus followed in 1996.Premium Apartments were introduced somewhere in 1990s, precincts with unique block design, featuring better quality finishes, you get them in ready-to-move condition, with flooring, kitchen cabinets, built-in wardrobes. In Standard Apartments you get raw concrete waiting for your renovation.Executive Condominium scheme was launched in 1995, subsidized private housing with same eligibility conditions like HDB (source: HDB Press Release 29 August 1995). See List of EC.
Privatization of the former HUDC estates started in 1995 too.
Many land parcels were sold to private developers, making the percentage of population living in public housing to fall.

The old estates built in 1960s and 1970s suffered from dilapidated buildings, aging population and businesses moving out. On resale market Queenstown and Ang Mo Kio were cheaper than Pasir Ris, one of the cheapest towns today (source: Resale flat prices database). To prevent this, HDB launched various upgrading programmes since 1990, which do improvements both inside flats and outside, adding extra bathrooms for Standard flats, utility rooms, installing new lifts that stop on every floor, redesigning facades for more modern look, building multi-storey car parks and converting surface car parks into green space, etc.

Although small-scale redevelopment of old estates started in 1966, with demolition of single-storey artisans quarters, a massive demolition of 1-room rental blocks occurred in 1988-1989 and continued into 1990s and this allowed new blocks with 5-rm and Executive units to be built in mature estates like Bukit Merah, Queenstown and Toa Payoh.

Remaining rental blocks were converted, units adjoined, creating units up to 192 sqm (3-rm + 4-rm) unofficially called Jumbo Flat and sold with fresh leases from 1992 to 1996. Since 1994 flat owners were allowed to buy an adjacent flat and adjoin them, but only for 3-rm or smaller flats, officially called Adjoined Flat. The HDB Floor Plans 1930-present is copyrighted by www.teoalida.com.

Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme was announced in 1995 to demolish some of the owner-occupied blocks built up to 1980 and rehouse the residents in new blocks built in nearby location, to maintain community. Usually low-rise blocks with large spaces between them are selected for SERS while dense and tall blocks are selected for upgrading. HDB do not give you a replacement flat automatically, they compensate you at market value, then you need to buy yourself a subsidized flat in replacement blocks which can be smaller or larger, and pay the difference with CPF. Since 2004 the residents can enjoy SERS benefits in anywhere instead of being limited to the designated replacement blocks. In 2011 Redhill Close (built 1955) was the first upgraded blocks to be selected for SERS (MUP 1992). See List of SERS sites.

HDB stopped deciding the prices of new apartments based on construction costs, instead they decided based on market prices. Prices of resale flats and new flats entered in a vicious circle, rising 50% in just 6 months of 1993 and tripled to 1996, then felt down 30% to 1998 and continued to fall in non-mature estates by 2006, while in mature towns they started rising in 2002, fueled by upgrading programmes and SERS hunters.

1996-1998 slab block with 4-Room Model A (100 sqm) and 5-Room Improved (120-123 sqm), some blocks have some smaller units named 4-Room Model A2 (90 sqm), some have different corners with 4-Room and 5-Room units, others have a wing with 2 units of 5-Room

1993-1998 point block with Executive Apartment (144-147 sqm), some blocks are L-shaped with 4 units per floor (3 or 4 different layouts), or U-shaped with 5 units per floor, some are longer like slab blocks and include corridor units, some blocks are combined with Executive Maisonette1996-1998 blocks provide service balcony for kitchen

1993-1998 point block with Executive Apartment (146 sqm), 4 units per floor, two 146 sqm layout and other two different kitchen shape
1993-1998 atrium block with Executive Apartment (143-146 sqm), 6 units per floor, four 146 sqm layout and two 143 sqm layout

Another revolution is visible for the HDB flats completed since 1998: Block naming system (slab, point, atrium) has been abandoned. Flat naming system (Improved, Model A, etc) is no longer used in sale brochures but is still shown in resale transactions, where all 4-rm are Model A and all 5-rm are Improved. In sale brochures, the word Flat was replaced by Apartment, a new naming system was introduced: Type A = 4-rm, Type B = 5-rm, Type C = Executive.

The flat sizes were standardized, slightly smaller: 4-Room (100 sqm), 5-Room (120 sqm), Executive (140 sqm). Supply of Maisonettes was reduced since 1990s because of aging population who do not like stairs (source: Straits Times 1989) and the last maisonette was completed in 2000.

The 5-Room lost the study area, being just a 3-bedroom flat with larger living room. Executives are 3 bedrooms plus open study area that can be walled into a 4th bedroom. Average flat size 110 sqm.

A household shelter was provided in every flat, a store room with strengthened 30 cm walls and sealing door. Useless feature in my opinion, the shelter eats about 5 sqm, sometimes placed in middle of flat, hacking it is not allowed making floor plan is less flexible (some exceptions in 2000s: all 1/2-rm rental blocks and some 2/3-rm sold blocks have a storey shelter instead of household shelter).

Second downsize of HDB flats

In attempt to minimize number of corridor-facing flats, the shape of blocks became complex, with many corners containing 5-Room units, their number exceeded the number 4-Room units built in 2002 and 2003, so the average flat size remained high as 105 sqm in 2000-2005.

2000s – The decline

During 2000s, no other New Town or Estate were started. Construction continue only in existing estates. Taller and taller blocks were built in all estates not too close to airports to have height constraints. 30-storey complexes appeared since late 1990s, and the first 40-storey complex (Toa Payoh Towers) was completed in early 2005 (source).

The demand for new flats felt sharply after 1997 Asian Crisis. 2003 SARS outbreak and low immigration rate in early 2000s also slowed down the demand for flats. This happened right after the most prosperous decade, with 24000-36000 flats completed each year between 1994 and 2001. The queue, once 5 years long, vanished and left about 40000 unsold completed flats in the year 2000, most of them being 5-Room and Executive.

The Registration for Flat (queue selling system) was suspended in 2002.

Walk In Selection has been introduced in March 2002 to help clearing the stock of unsold flats. It ended in February 2007 and was replaced by Quarter-Yearly Sale of 2/3-Room flats and Half-Yearly Sale of 4-Room and bigger flats, which in 2010 were combined in Sale of Balance Flats, containing leftover flats from past BTO and SERS projects, plus old flats repurchased by HDB. Some flats are completed and available without waiting time, SOBF draws much interest, the battle being about 10 people per each flat.

Build-To-Order was introduced in April 2001 and became main supply of flats. Flats are offered for sale before being built. Tender for construction is called only if at least 70% of units have been booked (50% since 2011), otherwise the project is canceled and may be re-launched when will be more demand, with a different name and sometimes different design. The first projects enjoyed low interest, 5 of them being cancelled, but after Walk in Selection ended, most BTO projects were oversubscribed, from 2008 HDB launch 2 BTO projects every month. See list of BTO launches.

BTO system prevent HDB to built surplus of units, but it created a lag in housing supply, causing resale flat prices to double between 2007 and 2012. BTO system give you the advantage of choosing exact location of your home and estimated completion date (3-4-5 years, depending by project size), but the disadvantage is that some people need to apply multiple times until getting a good queue number.

Design, Build and Sell Scheme are public housing built and sold by private developers, it feature condo-style facades, but without guards, pool, or other condo facilities, it is still public housing. First DBSS project was launched in 2006 and completed in 2009. DBSS land sales were suspended in July 2011 after the Sim Lian Group, developer of Centrale 8 (8th DBSS) set outrageous prices up to $880.000 for 5-Room. 13 land parcels were sold for DBSS, totaling about 9000 apartments. See list of DBSS projects.

Punggol 21 was announced in 1996 and got first residents in 2001, a modern waterfront town featuring a mix of high-end HDB and Executive Condos, it is the first HDB town where each precint is individually designed and feature integrated carparks with green roofs, and no corridor-facing units. But due to 1997 Asian Crisis, it turned into a ghost town with many unsold flats and no amenities. As 31 March 2004 it had 3768 4-Room, 10031 5-Room, 1126 Executive units, then construction was very slow until 2010. The Punggol LRT Line, despite being completed in 2004, east loop opened in 2005 while the west loop opened only in 2014.

Pungool 21+ was announced in 2007 to rejuvenate the town, involving building a waterway through undeveloped part of town, amenities and low-end BTO projects with 2/3/4-room units. Imagine that if the crisis would never hit, Punggol was developed with big flats but without waterway!

Studio Apartments (35/45 sqm) were introduced in 1998 (completed 2001) for people aged over 55, they are sold with 30-year leases and cannot be sold in resale market. Originally were built in all-studio blocks, but since 2006 were introduced in BTO projects mixed with normal 3-, 4-, 5-room units.

HDB made a surprise decision in 1995 to close the registration queue for Executive flats, shortly after introduction of Executive Condominiums. Last EA was completed in 2004, last EM in 2000, for people in the queue. A common misconception is that Executive Apartment were replaced by Executive Condos. NO, Executive Condo flats are privately-built in variety of sizes from 50 to 300 sqm.

Due to many unsold flats, very few 5-Room were completed in 2007-2009. Economy recovered in late 2000s, HDB raised production of 5-Room flats but do not reintroduce Executive Apartments, motivating that these flats were purchased by rich families who can afford too much space for no reason, also the average household size dropped thus larger flats are no longer necessary.

The average size of new flats dropped from 105 sqm in 2000-2005 to 90 sqm in 2007 and around 80 sqm later.

HDB resumed building rental blocks in 2007, corridor-style with 1- and 2-room apartments, in 2007, for people who are unable to own a flat.

Each 2000s project is unique designed, but most flats feature similar circular pattern: living – common bedrooms – master bedroom – bathrooms – kitchen, but with a lot of variations in room sizes and windows, there are variations even from one floor to another floor of same block, so I cannot post on my website all possible floor plans. 2000s flats offer full privacy (except rental blocks). Flats with rooms facing to corridor were built in small numbers until 2004 lease year. First BTO project was completed in 2005 and got lease from 2006, so all BTOs offer full privacy. Compared with 1990s flats, the layouts were improved, bedrooms were downsized in favor of larger living room, the study area returned in 5-room flats, and common toilet entrance is no longer in kitchen.

Looking for floor plan of certain flat? Do a Google search with street or precinct name (rather than block number). Look on www.renotalk.com or other forums, where people post their floor plans asking for renovation ideas, or buy from HDB for $5. Do not ask me for floor plan because is unlikely to have and give you the correct floor plan, I do not have more than what can yourself steal from forums.

2010s – Today trends

Three new housing areas were announced in HDB Press Release in 2013: Bidadari Estate (within Toa Payoh planning area), Tampines North and Punggol Matilda. NO new town was officially announced so far. Additional construction is done in Bukit Batok (west end), Choa Chu Kang (south end), Yishun (east side) and Sembawang (very ulu area). The planning work for Bidadari started in 2012 and may get first BTO launches in 2015.

Some unreferenced info on Wikipedia state that after the current New Towns will be saturated, HDB will start Tengah, Simpang, Bukit Brown, Bidadari and Seletar… this info may have been extracted from Concept Plan 2011 but the Concept Plan itself seems that was not yet published as 2013.

Tengah, the 24th New Town, was officially announced in 2016. We expect 3 years of planning and 4 years of BTO construction time, so it may get first residents in 2023.

BUT in my opinion is not possible to start a new town using the current BTO system, flats sold before being built. Who the fuck will apply for a BTO flat located in middle of nowhere, without knowing how many other blocks or amenities will be launched nearby? The single solution is to start building NOW and sell them through SOBF when some amenities are at least planned! Proof: the very low 0.4 application ratio for May 2013 BTOs in ulu corner of Sembawang.

The demand for HDB flats is very strong nowadays. HDB ramped up BTO supply too late, from 9000 flats in 2009 to 25000 flats in 2011. Since Walk-in Selection ended in 2007, many citizens who are eligible for new flats but do not accept the 3-4 year waiting time of BTO system, turn to resale market, THIS caused the resale flat prices to double from 2007 to 2012 and the prices of new flats grew according to resale prices.

2010s flats

SkyVille & SkyTerrace @ Dawson, two iconic BTO projects were launched in December 2009. SkyTerrace feature lofts and paired units (similar with dual-key units in condos), this design caused some waste of floor space of the already too small and too expensive apartments. They are most expensive HDB flats ever offered for sale, due to prime location near Queenstown MRT, and were still oversubscribed (9865 applications for all 1718 units, up to 12 applicants for each 5-rm unit, but in case of 3-rm units were slightly less applicants than units). Flats are even smaller than in Pinnacle@Duxton, to 83 sqm for 4-rm and 101 sqm for 5-rm.

Other BTO projects of 2010s decade remained at the standard sizes 45 / 65 / 90 / 110 sqm (excluding balcony and A/C ledge). Due to high demand for 5-room, the average flat size rose from 80 sqm for BTO flats launched in 2009 to 85 sqm for BTO flats launched in 2012, then felt to 75 sqm in 2014 due to increased supply of 2-room flats once singles over 35 were allowed to purchase new HDB flats.

For first time in 15 years, HDB launched a bigger flat type in July 2013 BTO: 3gen flats having 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in 115 sqm (following a trend started by Executive Condominiums offering 5-bedroom flats). Room sizes can be compared with the 4-room flats, having slightly larger living room, an extra 15 sqm bedroom and 5 sqm bath.

Since Executive flats are no longer built because they were often purchases by small but rich families, the 3gen flats with eligibility restricted to a married couple plus another family relative, are welcome in my opinion.

More USEFUL info

What is HDB ceiling height

HDB floor-to-floor standard is 2.80 meters, ceiling height is 2.60 m except top floor in some 1990s blocks which is 2.90 m, I need confirmation if in other decades the top floor have taller ceiling than 2.60 m standard.

How to find the age of a HDB block

Use Resale Flat Prices, by this way you also see which flat types available in the block, and their areas. Does not work for rental blocks.

Note: you cannot find the age of block, you will find the Lease commence date, which is more important than block building year. Lease year correspond with building year + 1, with few exceptions.

See also Status of HDB upgrading programmes, showing number of units in any block, too bad that they do not display the building year too, as upgrading programmes are usually done by the year of being built.

The only case when HDB publish the real year when a block was built, is when the blocks are selected for SERS.

News: I compiled all the above information into a database and you can view it on HDB Map.

How urban planning in Singapore was done

Since 1960 to 1990s all HDB towns were planned using a standard density of 200 dwelling units per hectare. Flat sizes were growing over the years, leading to a stupid situation: the blocks with big flats were closest apart, they were inhabited by richer people who were expecting more privacy and more space to park their cars… while the 1-room rental flats had largest spaces and empty carparks.

Since 1990s (not sure exact year), urban planning control is done using plot ratio (gross floor area divided by land area). To create a vibrant city, low-, medium and high-density areas were created.

The ratios were revised and raised in Master Plan 1998, today most public housing are in 2.8 – 4.2 range, low-density condos are low as 1.4 and office buildings in Central Business District reach a plot ratio of 12.

How many New Towns built HDB in Singapore

Usually is said that 27, but this is the number of Planning Areas-based “Towns”, do not confuse with “New Towns” .

Based on construction stages:Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) built 20 New Towns (10000-70000 units) and about 70 small estates (under 10000 units).Economic Development Board (EDB) built in 1964-1968 and Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) built in 1968 and late 1970s a small number of blocks for low-income people, in Jurong and Sembawang industrial areas.Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) built between 1974 and 1987 21 estates totalling about 9500 units, of which 18 estates sandwich housing for middle-income people who did not qualify for HDB flats but could not afford a private property, plus other 3 estates for Ministry of Finance and Singapore Armed Forces. List of HUDC estates.

HDB took over JTC and HUDC in 1982, becoming sole provider of public housing in Singapore. HDB built few more HUDC estates up to 1986.
The HDB Annual Report up to 1989 display a list of about 100 estates.

URA defined 55 Planning Areas in 1991, HDB New Towns and Estates were reorganized into 20 “Towns” and 11 “Other Estates” in AR 1990, few years later the other estates were regrouped into 6, of which Sembawang and Sengkang were turned into “towns” in AR 1996, Punggol was added in AR 1999, Lim Chu Kang was demolished, reaching today figure of 23 towns and 3 estates .There is no relation between Planning Areas / Towns and historical development HDB New Towns / Estates.

The current 26 HDB Towns and Estates match the URA planning areas with 2 exceptions:
– Kallang-Whampoa is one HDB town stretching on 3 planning areas (Kallang, Whampoa, Novena)
– Pasir Ris town also include Changi Village (from Changi planning area)

More notes:
– Central Area, Geylang, Kallang-Whampoa and Bukit Merah towns contains several HDB estates built inside of the main city, which cannot be considered “New Towns”.
– Lim Chu Kang estate is no longer in use since 2001, but it kept appearing on HDB Resale Flat Prices e-service until 2009, making total of 27 towns.
– Tengah was added in HDB Resale Flat Prices e-service in 2016, despite that will take more than 10 years for flats to be built, fulfill MOP and be available on resale market.

Notes

About me

I wrote this article from my own personal research since 2009, because others (including Wikipedia) are incomplete, not detailed, create confusion and may contain errors. Please do not copy any part of page TEXT without my approval. Photographs are from Panoramio, Wikipedia, etc and are linked to their original source. Feel free to use the HDB floor plans, for using photographs you may want to ask permission to their original authors. List of page updates.

How I got floor plans?

During the initial research in 2009, I took floor plans from October 2009 Sale of Balance Flats, copying images from PDF brochures (one PDF per town, few hundred floor plans to choose from). I choose 52 images, the ones with yellow-cream background, about 400-600 pixels tall, 29 pixels per meter. Additional floor plans were collected from random forums and blogs, reaching 100 images in 2012, some PNG, some JPG, different image resolution and scan quality, the page looked like a shit!

In 2014, to reduce bandwidth usage and improve website design, I re-made the floor plans taking them from March 2012 Sale of Balance Flats (1000+ floor plans to choose from, each on separate PDF file, took me about 20 hours to download all PDFs). I took screenshot of PDF file at 100% zoom, cropped image in Paint then added the info bar at bottom. Full-size images about 600-1000 pixels tall (44 pixels per meter), and thumbnail images at 1/4 size. Page size: 8 MB.

This page was intended as educational material, showing HDB history and evolution of typical floor plans, but the audience is mostly resale flat buyers than students, they believe that this is / they want this to be a complete collection HDB floor plans, no matter how many floor plans I post, they want more!

Lots of variations exists. Example: 3-Room New Generation flat (67 sqm), the units that are not next to staircase do not have that thick wall, units that are not next to corridor-end unit do not display a second door on corridor, all these 4 can be mirrored, total 8 possible floor plans. I can post over 1000 floor plan variations, and no one will know how many other variations exists. This would overload website and will create trouble for people trying to find a basic floor plan.

Occasionally I get emails from “contributors” sending me their own floor plan (in most cases, too similar with one posted already, or too rare to worth posting), other people complain that the website is cluttered. This is why I decided in late 2012 to STOP adding more content unless there is something special.

The 100 floor plans displayed in this article represent 90% of all HDB flat types built before BTO era.

I have in my computer over 1000 floor plans saved from HDB website at every Sale of Balance Flats, or collected from various forums. Due to the massive effort needed to collect them and high valuable, I am selling my floor plan collection for some money.

Do note that this is complete floor plan collection of the flats sold at SBF, not complete collection of all possible HDB floor plans.

Trouble finding floor plan of a certain block? Have a floor plan but do not know where it is located?

Provide me block number or floor plan image. I am happy to help up to 5 people per day for FREE.
I have in my computer over 1000 floor plans saved from HDB website at SBF launches or collected from various forums.

If you ask about a flat built before 2000s, there are 90% chances to have a similar floor plan, but in case of BTO flats and 1990s premium projects the chances are less than 20%. Do not ask me floor plans of blocks under construction, floor plans with dimensions are provided at key collection, not earlier. I can give you PDF brochures, without dimensions.

I have high experience in HDB architecture so I can identify flat types in 99% of HDB blocks just by looking in satellite photos, eventually street view, takes 5 min to provide you possible floor plan (if I have), you get a rough idea of flat layout before purchasing, but I offer NO guarantee that will be 100% matching / correct for your flat.

If you already purchased a flat and want a floor plan for renovation, you are advised to buy floor plan from HDB for $5 to get the CORRECT floor plan.

Do not make stupid request like “Gimme the 4-room floorplan AMK model”, every town have many different floor plans, and most floor plans are NOT town-specific.
Some people suggested sorting floor plan collection by town / address. This is not possible due to above reason.

HDB resale flat prices have been stabilized in 2015, dropping first 3 quarters and rising in the 4th quarter with only 0.2%. Let’s hope that prices won’t rise again too much.

However, prices are rising in some towns while dropping in other towns. I compiled this: HDB Median Resale Prices by Town .XLS showing HDB price trends since 2007. Updated every 3 months, last update October 2017 (contact me if more than 3 months passed and I forgot to update it). The gaps in lines in Excel chart are because HDB do not provide median price if less than 20 flats were transacted per quarter.

As you can see in the chart, Singapore HDB flat prices DOUBLED in 2008-2013 due to insufficient supply of new flats.

Would you like prices dropping next 5 years to the early 2000s value? Think about owners who worked hard to pay current flats which will lose half of value! Would you like prices growing so you and everyone else can make profit selling? Think about your kids, how hard they will need to work to buy their first home!

During 1990s, the location was not so important. Bishan and Bukit Timah had most expensive resale flats, but a thing less known by the young generation, is that Choa Chu Kang and Pasir Ris were among the most expensive estates. Mature towns like Queenstown, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio were cheaper.

Larger flats types had higher price per sqm than small flats, in 1990-1992 average resale price of Executive flats being double than average resale price of 4-room flats, at an area 40% larger.

HDB stopped deciding the prices of new apartments based on construction costs, instead they decided based on market prices. Prices of resale flats and new flats entered in a vicious circle, rising 50% in just 6 months of 1993 and tripled to 1996. The price gap between small and large flat types has decreased.

The 1997 Asian Crisis came when 80.000 flats were under construction, demand for new flats felt sharply. leaving HDB with about 40,000 unsold completed flats in the year 2000, mostly large flat types. 2003 SARS outbreak affected economy too, so 5 years were necessary to clear the stock of unsold flats. Queue selling system (Registration for Flat) was suspended in 2002, Build-To-Order was introduced to prevent oversupply, and Walk-In-Selection was used temporarily to clear the stock of unsold flats.

Old (mature) estates were not attractive, so HDB launched various upgrading programmes and Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme to make them attractive again. Resale flat prices started rising in old estates (where most 3-room are located) in 2002, while in the new estates they continued to fall until 2006, Executive flats having biggest fall. Price per sqm between small and large flat types equalized in 2005.

As the stock of unsold flats vanished, Walk-In Selection ended in 2007 and was replaced by Sale of Balance Flats that is only twice per year thus the battle is 6 people per each flat. BTO became main mode of flat supply. People who cannot wait 3-4 years construction time for BTO and fail at SBF, need to go in resale market. Resale prices started rising.

Prices grew faster in pre-1980 estates due to upgrading programmes fever of SERS, bringing Marine Parade, Queenstown, and Toa Payoh in line with Bishan and Bukit Timah. Pasir Ris had lowest price growth.

Singapore economy recovered in late 2000s but HDB failed to anticipate, it ramped up the BTO supply too late and too slow, they offered 5500 BTO flats in 2007, 7800 in 2008, 9000 in 2009 (global recession), 12000? 16000 in 2010, 22000 25000 in 2011, 25000 27000 in 2012, plus DBSS flats and Executive Condos. (strikethrough numbers are initial numbers announced at beginning of year).

Rising supply of BTO became visible in 2012, a small reduction in resale prices growing rate.
HDB lowered minimum application rate for BTO to be built from 70% to 50% in 2011, but since mid-2000s to 2013 no BTO had application rate under 100% (except elderly Studio BTO flats).

Analysts predicted that the prices in Singapore will start dropping in 2012 (example), as they predicted in 2011, 2010 too. In my forecast, resale flat prices will NOT fall even in 2012, but will continue to grow for as many years as HDB refuse to build ahead of demand, forcing us to wait 4 years via BTO!

The cooling measures introduced since 2011 such as Minimum Occupation Period lengthen to 5 years for resale flats (does anyone know when 5-year MOP was introduced for new flats?) just made people angry. Stupid MOP cause less flats to enter resale market in the coming years, and the number of people not eligible for buying directly from HDB (for example PR and singles) is growing.

Most of BTOs launched in the 3 years 2009, 2010, 2011 been completed in only 2 years 2013-2014… 25000 flats completed in 2014 alone + 5 years MOP = possible market crash in 2019. I am not saying that prices will not start to fall earlier, but 2019 may have the biggest price fall (if other variables would not exist).

Note: The above text was written by my personal research at end of 2011. Later I found a similar research on h88.com.sg: Colin Tan: HDB resale flat prices will stay up, dating from Feb 2012, that confirm my hypothesis They say that prices will drop no sooner than 2017! Oh dear…

Prices dropping since 2013

One of the cooling measures, 3 year waiting period for permanent residents to buy resale flats, introduced in August 2013, created fear that the housing market may crash. Resale flat prices dropped in 3rd quarter 2013, for the first time in 5 years. Such minor drop in prices may cause panic, many owners rush to sell their flats before prices fall more, leading to a chain reaction in price drop, OR if the panic may be just temporarily and prices will rise back next year. However, there are no signs to recover. Every quarter of 2014 added 1-2% drop in prices. No significant drop but still enough to make analysts ANGRY that HDB cooling measures were too powerful and requested to be lifted.

Note that HDB can also invent anti-cooling measures in case prices drop with more than 10% in one year, and these anti-cooling measures can fail like how most of the cooling measures failed. HDB wants to stabilize prices, a too sudden drop can be disastrous for entire Singapore economy.

Stupidity: instead of providing an adequate supply of flats, they kept supply low during 2000s despite of population increase, low number of flats entered in resale market while the demand was rising, then during 2010s HDB artificially slowed down demand for resale flats with cooling measures, and when prices started to drop, instead of keeping supply high and lift the cooling measures, they announced to decrease supply of new BTO flats 24300 units in 2014 to 16900 units in 2015. Idiot decision! BTO launches do not affect resale prices directly so we expect to see prices dropping and further decrease of BTO supply in 2016, thus the 2008-2013 price bubble risk to happen again during 2020s!

Personalty I hope that HDB will let the price index to drop slowly to 150 (2009 level), THEN lift the cooling measures, but keep the supply of at least 25000 BTO flats per year.

New BTO flat prices won’t fall according resale price index, they were traditionally priced 20% cheaper than resale flat prices, but since 2011 they were “de-linked” and became 30-40% cheaper (even if we exclude grants for first timers) as the HDB anticipated price fall. Even if the prices fall 10% for 3 consecutive years, BTO flat owners will still have profit from selling their flats. This does not apply for DBSS flats which were overpriced at their launch in 2011-2012. Raised income ceiling from $10k to $12k in 2015 may allow HDB to push up BTO prices.

What you should know

– Upgrading programmes and upcoming MRT lines also drive up the nationwide resale price index.
– The small size of today flats may encourage people to go in resale market for flats built before 1998 (NOT SURE if this push up the resale prices, record of psf is now hold by resale flats built in 2000s).
– Prices fall faster in young towns than mature towns, Punggol suffered biggest price fall in late 2013, as results of over-speculation during last years, this after it was the cheapest town in mid-2000s.
– In mature towns prices fall faster in the old 10-storey blocks of Queenstown and Toa Payoh that are getting shadowed by the new 40-storey blocks.

Affordability of HDB flats

Yes they are still affordable!
Proof: every launch, the higher priced BTOs (better locations) gets most applicants.
HDB Website shows application rate. See how 3-room remained unsold and how big is the battle for 5-room despite of higher prices. See the TRUTH about shrinking HDB flat sizes!

And not just HDB floor plans. I can also design condo floor plans, house plans, etc. Contact me for anything that can be drafted in AutoCAD!

I am writing this page in 2013 after being hired by a Malaysian architect to draw 5 HDB whole block floor plan in AutoCAD, for analysis of space efficiency. Later, a Singaporean asked me to draw his own HDB flat and suggest furniture layout. Another one asked if I have certain HDB flat in DWG format, I replied “I can draw it now in AutoCAD” but he said “Thanks anyway” and quit.

Beside this, watching website traffic I see many searches like “hdb 3-room new generation dwg file“, and most people do not click About Me page to see that I am also AutoCAD designer and I could offer DWG files. So I made this page to show… some of the HDB flats designed so far.

Procedure

You can give me floor plan of your flat, you can choose a floor plan from the page with 100 typical HDB Floor Plans (but beware of possible differences between your flat and the typical floor plans posted here), or give me your block number and I may have or not the exact floor plan in my collection of PDF floor plans collected from Sale of Balance Flats.

There is not mandatory to provide a floor plan with dimensions. I can also use a block plan from BTO brochures, put it in AutoCAD, draw a polyline over 4-room flat and scale it until it reach the floor area of 90 sqm. There will be a small error margin, but it will be no problem if you use DWG file for presentation only and not for calculation of interior design.

You can choose the detail level (2D or 3D, add furniture, dimensions, or leave only walls) and how to give you (DWG, DXF, PDF, etc).

Price formula: $10 + $10 for each flat floor plan or + $20 for each block floor plan. This formula is intended to provide discount for people who need more than one floor plan. With other words, $20 for first flat and $10 for additional ones, $30 for first block and $20 for additional ones.

I treat each customer individually and give you a personalized DWG file. There is a chance that you want DWG of same flat type as a previous customer, this save some time, but the drawing may have only walls in 2D and 3D because this is what the previous customer wanted, while you want 2D only but with dimensions and furniture, so I cannot sell “as it is”, instead I will remake drawing “as you want”.

Floor plans can be seen in HDB brochures (2012-2016) and HDB old brochures (2010-2014). Anyone having access to MyHDB page please give us links to 2017 BTO brochures

Advice: if you applied for a BTO and a good queue number, don’t apply via SBF hoping to get a better flat in better location and available sooner, the battle for each flat in SBF in mature towns is huge and you risk to remain homeless! Well, you can apply via SBF in Sembawang where application rate hardly reach 1:1.

Future BTO launches

Many people come there from google searches like “2018 BTO list” or “BTO launch location 2018“, as well as asking me such things over chat.

There is NOT possible to predict future accurately, except what we see in HDB Upcoming Sales Launches, the location of BTO in next launch.
For people who report me “next month will be BTO launch in towns X and Y” – “Yes I know” – “So why your site do not show that?“, I cannot know in advance the project name, completion date and number of units, so… I add new BTO projects in the above table in the day of launch, not in advance.

The launch date cannot be predicted, but as you can see from past launches it is usually in second day of month.

I was surprised to see since 2012 more and more BTO in mature towns.Now we can expect new BTO launches in EVERY town with land available, you can use Google Maps / Earth (satellite photos) to see the available land (Marine Parade is the only town with no BTO guaranteed). But nobody knows how sooner a land parcel will be developed as BTO, some parcels can be sold to private developers instead.

The only official info from HDB was on 29 August 2013, the Public Exhibition on New Housing Areas: Bidadari (estate within Toa Payoh town, first BTO early 2015), Tampines North (first BTO late 2014), Punggol Matilda (first BTO Sep 2013).

Tengah New Town was announced in 2016, next new towns may be Seletar and Simpang.

Flat supply for next year is announced in December. 2017 supply as announced in 2016, will be 17000 BTO flats. This is a very low supply which contradict with a news from 2013: 700000 new homes by 2030.

Statistics

As end of 2016, 186344 flats were launched in 274 BTO projects (of which 2709 flats were cancelled in 5 BTO projects). The estimated average BTO flat size is 82.68 sqm and is dropping due to raising supply of 2-room flats since 2013 (for comparison: 1990s HDB flats were 120 sqm in average). Estimation was done using the standard internal floor areas:

Real floor area shown in HDB Resale Transactions will be bigger because it will include A/C ledge (2-3 sqm) and balcony (3-4 sqm) if available. Pinnacle @ Duxton and Dawson BTO flats are smaller than the standard flat sizes.

Source of data

2001-2009: Wikipedia’s BTO article, it had a list of BTO projects (now deleted, because it had too much info for such a general encyclopedia), initially I used it to compile the above List of BTO in 2011.

2010-present: the brochures issued by HDB at every new launch. I saved all brochures and offer them for free download on my website too, see BTO brochures.

Later I found that Wikipedia was full of mistakes. One visitor reported that Spring Lodge was not cancelled. I checked the map and he is RIGHT, Wikipedia was WRONG, showing Spring Lodge as block 465 cancelled, with completion date 2007, Spring Lodge has been built, BUT as block 466 (lease commence date 2006, completion probably 2005). WTF!!?? River Edge supposedly completed in 2005 seems that was the one cancelled? In case Wikipedia shows Spring Lodge under name River Edge, does anyone know which BTO has been cancelled in 2003?

Few more mistakes reported by visitors, mostly regarding number of units, have been corrected. Please report any more mistakes!

Note about completion date

Many people asked me if a BTO can be completed earlier. YES, the estimated completion acts like a deadline, in most cases residents collect keys up to 3-6 months earlier. Note that Pinnacle @ Duxton residents collected keys and moved in Dec 2009, but work continued at skybridges until May 2010 scheduled completion date.

Originally I took completion dates from Wikipedia which specify same month 4 years ahead, and I kept adding 4 years of the projects not listed in Wikipedia, but I realized THAT WAS WRONG as most 2009-2010 BTO are completed in 3-3.5 years (6-12 months faster) because HDB decided in 2010 to speed up BTO production, affecting the already-launched projects. In 2011 I have corrected the completion date for the post-2009 BTO, now specifying the “Estimated completion date” shown in sale brochures provided at BTO launch date.

Occasionally HDB show a different, updated completion date when unsold flats are re-launched in SBF, earlier than completion date estimated at the BTO original launch, but since not all BTO have unsold flats, and to prevent being blamed for providing WRONG completion date by people looking in original BTO brochures, I choose to show the original estimated completion date.

Under construction BTO have communities on Facebook and on various forums, residents posting construction updates and predict completion date. Check them!

Some people ask me what is the ACTUAL completion date or key collection date of completed BTO, I cannot answer, you should ask someone residing in that BTO, or check HDB Events Calendar, look for Welcome Party / Completion Ceremony.

Lease commence date is about 1 year after estimated completion date. Minimum occupation period is 5 years starting from key collection, and residents may collect keys at different dates. If you want to estimate when first flats will be available in resale market from certain BTO project, you should add 4½ years to estimated completion date from above table.

Non-BTO projects

Build-To-Order scheme introduced in 2001 became main supply of HDB flats, at same time precint names became standard for all new HDB developments (precint names were also added for older blocks during upgrading programmes, also added at an unknown date for all blocks in Sengkang including the ones built before introduction of BTO scheme.

But such precint names were used for other schemes too, such as SERS replacement blocks. Numerous people thinks that any HDB block that have a name is a BTO, and when a Sale of Balance Flats is done, they asked me info about “these BTO which are not found in your list of BTO projects” or blamed me for having an incomplete list of BTO launches.

The above list is the complete list of BTO projects, however HDB does build other flats which are NOT offered for sale via BTO scheme.

List of DBSS projects – blocks built and sold by private developers, but managed by HDB like public housing.List of SERS sites – blocks built for redevelopment of old blocks, which their surplus flats are also offered via SBF in same manner with unsold flats from BTO projects.

There are also projects which are neither BTO or SERS, the first of them, Fernvale Lodge, Wikipedia listed it as BTO, launched date 2009, completion date unknown, so I included it in my BTO table too. I saw many visitors coming to my website via google search Fernvale Lodge, so I checked it, is not a BTO neither SERS, it was built in advance and put on sale first time in the Sale of Balance Flats of September 2011, completed in 2012. I deleted it from my table of BTO.

Executive Condominium is a form of subsidized housing built by private developers, having same eligibility restrictions like HDB (family nucleus, citizens and permanent residents), you should dispose any other property 30 months before applying, minimum occupation period of 5 years before you can sell to citizens and PR, even single PR. After 10 years since TOP date, all restrictions are lifted and even single foreigners can buy. See the TOP date in the map and table:

List of EC in Excel format

Notes

NO executive condominium was topped between 2008 and 2013, because HDB phased out EC scheme in favor of DBSS scheme, resumed EC land sales in 2010 in parallel with DBSS, then suspended DBSS land sales in 2011.

Last land sale for EC development was in May 2016. As October 2017 no more land sales were done, putting under question if there will be more EC in the future.

EC completed in 2013-2014 had original estimated completion date around 6 months later. so I guess that the current under construction EC may be completed 6 months earlier than indicated.

I update the above table every few months. TOP date for completed EC can be seen on HDB InfoWeb too, frequently updated. Land sales for future EC launch can be seen on: HDB InfoWeb > Land sales > Residential > Executive Condominium (I do not post direct link to PDF, every time when HDB sell a new EC site, the PDF is renamed). Estimated completion and number of units sourced from EC websites made by agents. Unfortunately these websites often provide contradictory info.

Although I am fascinated mostly by HDB, and I post on my website things that cannot be found anywhere else, I added this List of EC page on my website in early 2012, because several visitors have suggested this, but their suggestion also had a negative effect: occasionally some people attempt to purchase an EC flat via me despite that I am not agent, then blame me what is the purpose of running such an real estate website. If you want to buy an EC you can contact the partner agents shown below.

Executive Condo statistics

Executive Condos offer flats with 2, 3, 4 bedrooms, 3-bedroom being dominant (unlike private condos dominated by studios and 2-bedroom). A small number of 5-bedroom flats popped in EC launched since 2013.

Like DBSS, EC are designed by private developers hungry for profits, to sell as many units possible, the apartments were downsized and latest Executive Condo apartments are smaller than HDB flats. I do not know exact info about number of rooms distribution in pre-2008 EC but typical flats available starts with 3-bedroom which were around 110 sqm, and ends in penthouses, largest being 324 sqm, in The Quintet (source). In the new EC launch after 2010, sizes like 80 sqm for 3-bedroom and 110 sqm for 4-bedroom are common. Note that the sizes include an oversized balcony and A/C ledge, while the bedrooms can be small as 6 sqm. Highpark is one of the few condos that include dimensions in floor plan, you can see that bedrooms are around 2.5 x 2.5 meters.

Penthouses did existed in Executive Condos, being sold at high prices unrealistic for an income ceiling of $12.000. Government decided in January 2013 to cap the apartment size in EC to 160 sqm, Forestville being the LAST EC with bigger apartment sizes, biggest penthouse being 252 sqm. Stupid rule in my opinion, developers being unable to build bigger apartments will further downsize rooms and start increasing psf (price per square foot) to maximize profit in defavor of quality of living.

Looking for condo floor plans? Do a search on Google Images, most EC have floor plans public available on their websites, I do not plan to collect EC floor plans or copy them on my website.

IMPORTANT! Flat type naming represent approximate size in sqm and number of rooms, NOT the floor plan layout. Do not associate each flat name with the sample floor plan shown there.
Many different floor plan layouts exists with same name of flat type. See HDB floor plans page for more floor plans!

I saw a list of HDB flat types & models on SingaporeWatch.org as well as many other blogs, I have no idea who copied it and who was the original author or it, but since it was wrong and incomplete, I came with idea to make my OWN list of flat types rather than copying it in my website too.
At www.teoalida.com I am the original author of the above list. Please do not copy it without my approval!

Block typesSlab block – long narrow corridor-style block with 4 to 40+ units per floor
Point block – 4 apartments per floor, no corridors, being placed at distance from other blocks
Atrium block – a term introduced in 1990s denoting blocks with more than 4 units per floor but without long corridors
All 3 terms are no longer in use since late 1990s.

HDB blocks built after 2000s are a mixture, point/atrium blocks having 4 to 12+ units per floor, long corridors but without rooms facing to corridors, and the blocks are placed close each other so they looks like a slab block when viewed from street.

F.A.Q.

What is the difference between Studio and 2-Room
Floor plan is similar, BUT…
Studio are restricted to age 55+, sold with 30-year leases, with built-in kitchen cabinets, wardrobe, elderly-friendly features, cannot be sold in open market.
2-Room can be purchased by anyone, sold with 99-year leases, with bare rooms. 2-Room can be purchased by singles too since July 2013.

What is the difference between 4-Room and 5-RoomThe difference is 20 sqm, where these 20 sqm are added vary much, larger living room including study corner, larger bedrooms, or in few cases, an extra bedroom!

What is the difference between Standard and Premium HDB flats
Premium contract: tiles, wall paint, doors, kitchen cabinets, probably wardrobes too (not sure), plus better outdoor landscape, and in best cases, basement carpark. Most premium flats have full-height windows, but this is not a rule.
Standard contract: raw concrete waiting for your renovation, doors optional.
Since late 2000s premium flats are offered only in good locations, near MRT or near waterfront.

What is the difference between BTO and DBSS flats
BTO are sold by HDB at subsidized prices while DBSS are sold by profit-hungry private developers at super fucking crazy outrageous high prices.
Beside this, DBSS imitate condos including their bad features, such as smaller rooms but big balcony and A/C ledge, there is NO advantage over BTO flats.
DBSS flats are supposedly higher quality than BTO premium flats, but recent DBSS projects proved otherwise, residents were upset about quality in Trivelis, Centrale 8, and Pasir Ris One.

Beware of HDB naming system!

The naming system (4-Room, 5-Room, etc) is confusing, it do not denotes actual number of rooms, it define the flat size in square meters. The total flat floor area is (too) standardized after 1998, probably for pricing reasons. Individual room sizes may vary very much, for example: in 1985-2000 period, some 4-Room Model A had 3 small bedrooms and a living room big enough to build a 5th room (example), while some 5-Room Improved from same period had only 3 (but big) bedrooms and a living room (example).

Before 1988, all 5-Room and Executives had 3 bedrooms and a large room with separate living and dining areas, Executive had an additional utility/maid room.

From 1988 to 2000, all 5-Room and Executives had 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms + study, but Executives had larger living room, sometimes separate living and dining areas.

After 2000, the 5-Room are nothing else than 3 bedroom flats with larger livingroom, while Executive Apartments have 3 bedrooms plus an open study area. Since Executive Apartments were phased out in 2005, the study area was reintroduced in 5-room flats.

My opinion: too much standardization in flat sizes, the naming system (Improved, Model A) should be dropped from resale transactions or replaced with a new name, because since 1998, ALL 4-Room are Model A and all 5-Room are Improved. This creates confusion with the 1970s Improved and 1980s Model A flats, also the today 5-Room flats are nothing else than a larger 4-Room, being the smallest flats named 5-Room in HDB history.

Between 1995 and 2007, 72 SERS sites were announced. Between 2008 and 2016, only 9 SERS sites were announced, total 7570 flats. At this rate, 285 years are required to replace all 241343 flats built between 1970 and 1980. It is obvious that SERS is highly selective and only a small amount of these flats will be selected for redevelopment. Can we predict future SERS sites?

News: since 24 September 2017 I added prediction for SERS for EVERY block in HDB map so please stop disturbing me with questions “can block X get SERS”. Just click the block icon on map and see the answer!

* A completed site is one where all residents have vacated their sold flats.
# The replacement flats at Bendemeer Road and Upper Boon Keng Road were offered to the flats owners of Sims Drive (S/Nos. 57 and 58).
@ The replacement flats at Jurong West St 64 and Jurong West St 93 were offered to the flats owners of Boon Lay Drive (S/Nos. 63 and 64).

SERS history

During 1990s, the old estates built in 1960s and 1970s suffered from dilapidated buildings, aging population and businesses moving out. On resale market Queenstown and Ang Mo Kio were cheaper than Pasir Ris, one of the cheapest towns today (source: Resale flat prices database). To counter this, HDB launched Main Upgrading Programme in 1990, Interim Upgrading Programme in 1993 and Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme in 1995.

Some of the owner-occupied blocks built up to 1980 are selected for SERS residents are rehoused in new blocks built in nearby location, to maintain community. Usually low-rise blocks with large spaces between them are selected for SERS while dense and tall blocks are selected for upgrading.

HDB do not give you a replacement flat automatically, instead they compensate you with the market value of your flat, then you need to buy yourself another flat, which can be bigger or smaller, and you can get profit or need to pay with CPF the difference to the price of new flat. I would like to know how people dealt in early SERS sites, where affected blocks had 3-room flats only and replacement blocks 4-room and 5-room flats sold at much higher price. Since 2004 the residents can enjoy SERS benefits anywhere instead of being limited to the designated replacement blocks.

Although small-scale redevelopment of old estates started in 1966, with demolition of single-storey artisans quarters, the mass demolition of rental blocks started in late 1980s.

Some owner-occupied blocks may have been also demolished before implementation of SERS. With no dedicated replacement blocks, residents were compensated at market value and moved anywhere they wanted. For example Dawson estate had over 100 blocks but only 3 of them (blk 6A, 6B, 39) appears in the list of SERS sites. Do not say that all others were rental. At least terraced houses were owned.

The 1997 Asian Crisis affected demand for flats, resale flat prices in young towns continued to drop by 2006, while in mature towns prices started to rise in 2002 fueled by upgrading programmes and SERS.

Between 1995 and 2007, 72 SERS sites were announced. This created widespread rumous among population that any 1960s and 1970s block can get SERS, increasing demand for old flats, people buying 1960s and 1970s flats on purpose to have their block demolished and receive a new flat at subsidized price. As seen in above chart, blocks leased in 1966-1980 are priced higher than blocks leased in 1981-2000. Due to this reason, is no longer viable for HDB to redevelop old blocks, number of new SERS sites announced dropped dramatically.

Between 2008 and 2016, only 9 SERS sites were announced, total 7570 flats. At this rate, 285 years are required to replace all 241343 flats built between 1970 and 1980. It is obvious that SERS is highly selective and only a small amount of these flats will be selected for redevelopment in the near future, making impossible to predict which blocks will be next SERS site.

I believe that HDB is waiting for the old flats to get closer to their end of lease when their market value will drop significantly, then increase number of SERS sites. How soon this will happen… NOBODY KNOWS.

In the distant future, SERS may be extended to the New Generation blocks built in early 1980s, allowing redevelopment to start in Bukit Batok and Jurong East, but the Model A blocks introduced in 1982 and Simplified blocks introduced in 1984, as well as Executive flats introduced in 1984, are likely to not be selected before 2040. I am curious where maisonette owners will move? Moreover blocks built after 1990 blocks are designed with stronger structure to last even more so may reach their end of 99-year lease. However, no building can last forever (unless they have solid interior like Egypt pyramids) and this put under question how Singapore will look in second half of 21th century.

Interesting facts

Depot Road Estate built in early 1970s was fully redeveloped starting from 2000 except the 25-storey 5-room point blocks. HDB Press Release says this: Blocks 113 and 114 have not been included for SERS. These two point blocks are 25-storeys high with a total of 192 units of 5-room sold flats. Given their existing height, it is more viable to upgrade these blocks than to redevelop them. Hence they have been scheduled for the Main Upgrading Programme by the year 2000, in tandem with the redevelopment works in Phase II.

Hillview Estate built in 1977-1978 was the biggest SERS site and most controversial. Originally only the low-rise blocks were scheduled for demolition, but would left three 25-storey blocks in middle of nowhere so they decided to demolish entire estate, being the first 5-room point blocks blocks to be demolished, in 2006 (note: they were NOT the first demolished 25-storey blocks. In 2003 they demolished three 25-storey blocks of 4-room (possibly rental) at King George’s Avenue, other 25-storey blocks demolished are blk 110, 111, 112 Bukit Merah View and blk 22, 23 Holland Drive).
I heard 3 different stories about reason of demolition. Political stories: opposition ward at elections, so HDB decided to mix the residents in Bukit Batok. Paranormal stories: estate was haunted by ghosts and Pontianak. Army stories: nearby camp had to be upgraded to high security camp and the 25-storey blocks allowed espionage (however the army camp can be viewed also from Bukit Panjang 30-storey blocks).

How to identify future potential SERS sites

– SERS is currently done only where height restrictions allow redevelopment into 30+ storey blocks. Geylang, Hougang, Tampines, etc, are limited to 20 floors or less, so cannot get SERS until Paya Lebar airbase will be closed in 2030.
– So far only blocks built up to 1980 are selected for SERS, but this rule may change soon.
– Look in HDB Map for lease year, but it is when tenants were allowed to buy flats and does not always mean built year. For example Redhill Close blocks were built in 1955 and leased on 1 May 1983.
– Look in Google Earth / Maps satellite photos for blocks with large spaces between them.
– Look in URA Master Plan for areas with plot ratio 3.0, 3.5 or higher, but 2.8 areas may be also included.
– Look in Enquire status of upgrading programmes to check if the block did not have recent upgrading programmes. If HDB invested in any upgrading programme, the block will stand at least 20 more years. Clementi blocks 513-520 (IUP 1998, LUP 2008) may have been an one-off case.

There is NO rule to demolish blocks of given age. According Press Release of 22 August 1995 “Only a small number of estates/areas are likely to be considered for redevelopment under SERS. They will be the exception rather than the rule. These are old HDB estates developed at low density, or selected blocks which can be redeveloped with adjacent vacant land to give a better yield of flats”

Depot Road blk 103, 110, 111 built in 1975 and Ang Mo Kio blk 309, 315, 316 built in 1977 were identified for SERS in 1995 and 1996 and demolished around 2000 (after 25 years). Punggol Road 206 and 207 are one-off case with blocks built 1986 (source) and demolished around 2006 (4-storey farmer blocks that were damaging the modern image of Sengkang New Town). As 2016, NO block built after 1980 was identified for SERS.

Height limit matter: blocks 210-224 built in phase II of Toa Payoh, 1975-1978, having large space between blocks were likely to get SERS and be redeveloped in 40-50 storey blocks, while MacPherson estate built in 1960-1965, despite of being older, was selected for MUP instead of SERS because the blocks were packed close apart, and the proximity of Paya Lebar airbase height limit of 18 floors, do not allow redevelopment in higher density. The only blocks demolished in MacPherson were 1/2-room rental blocks, demolished during 1980s.

In 2010 I identified few potential SERS sites with NO upgrading programmes, but most of them were meantime selected for LUP (except Toa Payoh blocks 210-224, Tiong Bahru post-war blocks) while only Bukit Merah View, Clementi Avenue 5 were selected for SERS, proving how HARD is to predict correctly.

In 2011 Redhill and Boon Lay sites had the first upgraded blocks to be identified for SERS, both not technically feasible for Lift Upgrading Programme). LUP began in 2001 and is scheduled to end in 2014. However, some blocks received lifts stopping at every floor during MUP in 1990s, so they do not need also LUP, making predictions HARDER. But, any block that still do not have lifts that stop at every floor is very likely to get SERS. Anyone who spot such blocks is invited to leave a comment!

Surprisingly, the Toa Payoh blocks 210-224 were selected for LUP in 2011, NRP in 2013 and HIP in 2012 and 2014. Why these blocks were apparently reserved for SERS then suddenly HDB done 3 upgrading programmes in 3 years, is a big mystery. Does anyone know what was PAP support ratio in this precint?

Potential SERS sites spotted by me + non-SERS sites that people asked about

Future SERS sites is a HDB top secret information, only few employees knowing about this, to prevent price speculation, if there are rumors that a block will get SERS, people will value their flats higher and HDB will need to pay higher compensations.

Disclaimer:

Nobody can answer WHEN a block will get SERS. Don’t ask such questions!

You can be sure that a block will be demolished only when the SERS site is announced. Instead, we can be sure which blocks will be NOT a SERS site next 10-20 years.

HDB e-service enquire status of upgrading programmesmay have errors. In 2010 I checked all pre-1980 blocks one by one and compiled the HDB Database in Excel for purpose of seeing all blocks at once, database which I updated in 2015 checking all blocks including those checked in 2010. Marsiling Drive blk 27-29 and 33-34 showed in 2010 that got MUP in 1997 and LUP in 2004, but now as 2015 the e-service do not show the LUP but only the MUP. Google StreetView confirm the LUP done in 2004. I assume that similar errors exist. I do not have time to counter-check all blocks.

You are advised to check yourself Google Streetview and eventually go personally at the block and talk with residents to check possible unlisted upgrading programmes.

I listed below over 20 potential SERS sites with no upgrading programmes after 2000. If HDB continue to announce 1 SERS site every 2 years, and they may announce other sites not listed here, each of the below have less than 20% chances to get SERS next 5 years.

Central

York Hill Estate, there are 8 rental blocks and 3 ownership blocks (8, 9, 10) which got MUP in 1994 but nothing else. But first HDB need to build enough rental replacement blocks. Someone should check how many units are empty, when majority of rental blocks gets empty, SERS may come for the owned blocks!

Jalan Batu blocks 1-14 underwent MUP in 1996 but nothing else, they sit on prime land, may get SERS soon.

Ang Mo Kio

Last SERS site: 2006, so we expect a new SERS site soon.

Blocks 207-208, 215-216 underwent MUP in 1998 including lifts that stop at every floor, but were excluded from subsequent upgrades affecting neighbor blocks, together with block 217 1-room rental and nearby carpark, can free a large piece of land.

Blocks 303-306, 319-321 also underwent MUP in 1998 and nothing else, there is a rental block nearby (318).

No other SERS sites are expected in Ang Mo Kio, all blocks got LUP or MUP in late 1990s or later.

Bedok

Chai Chee blk 30-40 (built early 1970s) underwent MUP in 1993 but no LUP so may be a SERS site, maybe during 2020s. blk 33-34 got LUP in 2012 making entire estate less likely to get SERS.

Bedok blk 22-30 got MUP in 1996 then nothing else.

No more SERS sites are expected in Bedok, all blocks got LUP or MUP in late 1990s or later.

Bishan

Sin Ming blocks 22, 23 24 got MUP in 1995 and only block 25 got LUP in 2009, this is a sign that other 3 blocks are reserved for a future SERS site (thanks to Low Joo Ling comment).

Bukit Batok

Starting from 2014 I have been asking by multiple people if various blocks in Bukit Batok will get SERS (example: Justin comment). Even if Bukit Batok have potential of redevelopment into 30-storey blocks, there is NO sign that SERS programme will be extended to 1980s towns in the near future, also all blocks in Bukit Batok got LUP, so I am 100% sure that will be NO SERS in Bukit Batok until at least 2030. I think that residents are spreading false rumors!

Bukit Merah

Tiong Bahru pre-war blocks (built 1936-1940) are under conservation and being the place of pilot home ownership scheme in 1964, they are transacted as private properties. They will NOT get SERS.

Tiong Bahru post-war blocks (built 1948-1954) are not feasible for LUP due to staircase position. This is a potential SERS site but many people (including me) hope that they will be put under conservation, like the nearby pre-war blocks.

Bukit Ho Swee estate received MUP in phases in 1992, 1994, 1996, then the blocks from first 2 phases received LUP in 2006 (probably the 3rd MUP phase in 1996 upgraded lifts too so LUP was no longer necessary), although it does have potential of redevelopment to 40+ storey, the LUP makes SERS unlikely sooner than 2026.

Bukit Timah

Farrer Road blocks 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 got MUP in 1994 and HDB Enquire Status of upgrading programmes says clearly that no LUP was announced. A potential SERS site! However, blocks 1 and 5 got LUP in 2011-2012, the chances to have SERS only remaining blocks are low. Probably all blocks will get SERS in distant future.

Clementi

No more SERS sites are expected in Clementi, all blocks got LUP or MUP in late 1990s or later.
Unbelievable! Blocks 513-520 that got LUP in 2008 were announced for SERS in 2016, at just 5 years since last SERS site in 2011

Geylang

MacPherson estate, although built in same time with Tanglin Halt, did not got any SERS to date, because of the proximity of Paya Lebar airbase which limit height to 18 floors. However, the 2013 announcement that Paya Lebar airbase will be closed, and the lack of other upgrading programmes after MUP done in 1993-1994 which included lift stopping on every floor, indicate that SERS will come in distant future.
There are 5574 dwelling units in the blocks 21-83 built in 1960s (excluding add-on blocks built 1990s), probably will be redeveloped in 2-3 phases, starting from late 2020s.

Jurong West

Taman Jurong blk 116-122 underwent MUP in 1998 but nothing else, may get SERS during 2020s.

Boon Lay blk 207-215 underwent MUP in 1997 but nothing else, they have very big spaces between blocks thus suitable for SERS, but where the replacement blocks can be built? HDB filled all available land in Jurong West with BTOs.

Pandan Gardens blk 410-412 did not got LUP in 2009 when neighbor blocks got. They got only IUP in 1994 and as far I know IUP do not upgrade lifts like MUP, so they are likely a SERS site, but how soon?

Kallang

Old Airport Road Estate blk 2-32 were built in 1950s, however these blocks never appeared in HDB resale transactions listings, someone told me in 2013 that all them are rental blocks and many flats are vacant, and in 2014 all news websites announced that will be cleared in 2016 and 15 of 17 SIT blocks will be demolished for an “immediate redevelopment”.

Old Airport Road blk 93, 95, 97, 99 built by HDB in 1960s are ownership flats, got MUP in 1992 and nothing else. I believe that they may get SERS around 2017 when the rental blocks will be cleared, the replacement blocks for these 4 blocks may be built here. People informed me that carpark is being upgraded with lift, this lower SERS potential, unless they demolish blocks and keep carpark.

Marine Parade

Marine Parade is the most expensive 1960s/1970s estate, and due to this reason, SERS is not viable. I believe that HDB is waiting for the leases to be 50-60-70 years old when flat values will be lower, then do SERS. This is likely to not happen before closure of Paya Lebar airbase in 2030s, when height restriction of ~25 floors will be removed. Where can be the replacement site?

Queenstown

Commonwealth View and Tanglin Halt, built in early 1960s, underwent MUP in batches between 1992 and 2000, they sit on prime land with potential of 50-storey blocks so may be a good idea to do SERS in late 2010s or 2020s. But due to large number of blocks, doing SERS would take at least 2 decades and is difficult to predict which will be the first to be demolished. Blocks 74-80 were identified for SERS in 2008.
After 6 years, in 2014, the big SURPRISE happened! All remaining Tanglin Halt was identified for SERS (3538 flats).We expect Commonwealth (3384 flats) to have same fate in 6 or more years, the replacement site may be in Tanglin Halt which will be demolished around 2021.

Mei Ling / Stirling Road blocks 151-164 got MUP in 1996-1998, blocks 167-170 underwent MUP in 1993, both nothing else after, while nearby blocks 165, 166, 168A, 171 that got MUP in 1993 too got also LUP in 2009. This may indicate that the blocks 167-170 are reserved for demolition, or they did not had lifts upgraded during MUP due to costs.

Ghim Moh and Dover all remaining blocks got MUP in 1997, 1999, 2000 and nothing else after, since Ghim Moh blocks 9-12 got SERS in 2006 and demolished in 2014-2015, we expect a new SERS site soon!

Toa Payoh

Last SERS site in Toa Payoh was 2003, so we expect a new SERS site soon.

Blocks 1-3 got MUP in 1990 then nothing else, they do not have lifts stopping at every floor, may be a SERS site soon!

Blocks 4-15 got MUP in 1994 then nothing else, don’t know if lifts stop at every floor, may be included in same SERS site.

Blocks 34, 38, 47, 51-53, 56-61, 107-128, 158-163, 168-174 … got MUP in 1993-1995 and nothing else, are also candidates for SERS but not in near future, may take 10-20 years to replace all them, nobody can tell which ones will be first.

Blocks 91-100 also got MUP in 1995 and 3 of them (91, 94, 95) got also LUP in 2006, I would not have counted them in SERS until September 2017 someone informed me that the remaining blocks do not have lifts stopping at every floor. Not being selected for LUP despite of being eligible, may indicate a future SERS site (together with rental blocks 103-106)?

Others

One of the biggest dilemmas is the SERS potential of SIT terraced houses in Stirling Road and Jalan Bahagia. Lots of terraced houses were demolished during 1990s but the fact that after 2000 no more were demolished may indicate that HDB is willing to preserve these two clusters of terraced houses, how long… nobody knows. The floor area of these houses vary from original 84 sqm to over 200 sqm, if they will get SERS, HDB need to compensate owners with record sums of money, which will give owners too much profit compared with the price of a new HDB flat, which will be much smaller. Probably HDB is waiting until near end of lease when their market value will be lower. I wish to know what was the process of demolition of terraced houses in Dawson estate in late 1990s, since they are NOT included in official list of SERS sites but they were owned thus owners had to be compensated some way.

Government announced in 2013 that Paya Lebar Airbase will be closed, and according a Wikipedia editor that its edits are being reverted in SERS article, this will happens in 2026, but officially there is NO announcement about closure date. This will eliminate height restriction and make potential SERS sites the MacPherson 1960s estate as well as large areas in Geylang and Hougang. I am questioning if the 280 meter nationwide height limit will be removed too.

Page history

Page created in January 2012, showing all completed and in progress SERS sites. For in progress SERS sites (2008-present) I had info about Replacement Sites and Deadline for Submission of Resale / Transfer Applications, taken from HDB website. For completed SERS sites, HDB do not provide an official list of replacement blocks, so I have to look on map and guess which blocks could be the replacement for SERS sites. I found that is possible to see older press releases on archive.org and get the info about replacement blocks, but I constantly get messages that the server is down or page not found…

June 2012: added info about replacement blocks for 2005-2007 SERS sites from archive.org, as well as the number of units for all 2005-present SERS sites.

October 2012: added info for 1995/1997 sites from archive.org. I can add built year too. I should expand the table (number of columns)? Suggestions are welcome!

July 2014: I found that HDB added on its official website the complete list of replacement blocks (this happened since early 2014, but I was not aware of). I remade the table, deleted from website the additional info such as number of units and Deadline. If you are interested in this info you can view it in the XLS version of above table.

The HDB Database involve collecting data from multiple sources and typing it in one Excel table, an original compilation Made by Teoalida. The database has been purchased by several companies, including home insurance, telecommunication, door-to-door services, real estate portals, flyer distributors, as well as many people who did not told me what business field they are in.

I offer 5 standard packages, containing block number, street address, building name, building type, building era, postal code, plus some specific details shown below. You can purchase a smaller package then pay the difference to a bigger package. For custom packages or additional data that is not yet included in database, contact me!

Instant download! Pay via PayPal or credit card and receive automatically an email with download link (example email).FREE updates every 3 months for one year! Pay 50% per year for next years! See also Terms and conditions!

Bonus: block model name & SERS potential, number of floors and units per floor, estimated for 40% of blocks, counted for other 40% of blocks, yet to be counted for 20% of blocks, this require dozens of hours of manual research to be done accurately, and I may do it if enough people pay the bonus fee.

Summary
Summary file does contain number of HDB buildings breakdown by type and number of dwelling units breakdown by flat type, for each HDB town, phase of development, town council and electoral division. Does NOT contain individual HDB blocks.

Number of units is available for 10,506 blocks that were existing at least as 2010, including under construction blocks launched until November 2016 BTO. Total: 1,129,347 units, averaging 107.50 units per block. Every year, new blocks are completed while others are demolished, keeping this figure up-to-date is difficult. 1,017,335 dwelling units are in use as 31 March 2017 according HDB Annual Report.

Accuracy guaranteed for block numbers, street addresses, postal codes, lease year, number of units.
Not guaranteed for number of floors and units per floor, and for building type tag. Some 2-storey shophouses may be tagged incorrectly as residential. I need to find correct way to tag shophouses.

– Town / Estate: complete for all Singapore. Town is official zoning while Estate is my personal classification by phases of construction.

– Town Council: complete for all Singapore. Source: www.onemap.sg.(added in May 2017 at suggestion from a customer)

– Electoral division (GRC / SMC): complete for all Singapore. Source: www.onemap.sg.(added in September 2017 at suggestion from a customer)

– Construction code & unit numbers: available for 3011 of 14586 total buildings, or 2464 of 2666 BTO era buildings.In 2016 a customer suggested adding unit numbers. Source: site plans from BTO and SBF brochures, available for 90% of BTO era blocks and for random pre-BTO blocks which HDB offered site plans at Sale of Balance Flats.I know how useful would be to have the unit number ranges for every block, but this is NOT POSSIBLE. Hong Kong does have www.centamap.com showing unit number and position. When Singapore is going to have the same? Going from block to block to check mailboxes and get unit numbers, takes more than a man’s lifetime.

– Building type tag: complete. This column act also as filter, non-HDB buildings have it left empty, who wants a simple list of HDB buildings can filter it to delete empty rows (estate header row, schools, condos, etc). Flats / MSCP / Pavilion / Other + Demolished tags, so the real estate agents can filter and delete demolished buildings, while historical researchers (like myself) can keep them.(added in November 2014)

– Postal codes: available for 12966 buildings standing as 2015 or under construction. Source: HDB Centralized Map.Personally not interested in postal codes, but in July 2014 a customer suggested adding them, a 2nd customer asked for postal codes in May 2015, so in June 2015 I added them. HDB Centralized Map added info boxes for under construction blocks in late 2016, allowing me to add in my database too at January 2017 update.

– GPS coordinates, latitude / longitude: complete for residential buildings.Suggested by 1 people in 2013, too hard task to write coordinates manually, NOT in mood to do it, but DONE in 2015 thanks to Renata who bought my database and made a script to run in Google Maps API and add coordinates. In 2017 I met Sik Su Wei who made a script to get coordinates from HDB Centralized Map and I integrated them into my database using VLOOKUP function of Excel.

– Lease commence date: complete for all blocks available on resale market (so NO year for carparks, rental blocks, or blocks within MOP).(30% done in 2010 and remaining 70% completed in December 2014, year only, source: HDB Resale Flat Prices.) Since 2015 I started to improve by adding month and day, sourcing from HDB Centralized Map.

Update frequency for above items: every 3 months when new BTO are launched. Also adding old demolished blocks when I discover them on hm.onemap.sg or National Archive photos. My ULTIMATE GOAL is to have in database all SIT/HDB blocks ever built.

– Building year: available for 505 buildings. HDB never publish actual building date, except when the block is selected for SERS. I have indicated the building year in database only for SERS blocks and for the blocks who were leased significantly later than their actual construction date. The building year is sourced from old newspapers seen at National Archive (if possible), otherwise estimated using old Street Directories.

– Number of units (text form) & upgrading programmes: complete for residential buildings. Source: Enquire status of upgrading programmes for blocks completed as 2015.(25% done in 2010, remaining 75% ON HOLD waiting for a customer paying me…. been paid in May 2015 and completed in June 2015 (complete for all blocks that were standing to at least 2010).

– Number of units breakdown by flat type in separate columns: complete for all residential buildings (about 9500 buildings). Idea used since 2011 for List of BTO projects. In 2014 I planned to use it in the future for HDB Blocks Database too. I decided in June 2015 to breakdown original number of units beside current number of units which is varying over time.(done in 2014 only for Jurong West for showing SAMPLE file. Breakdown done in all towns in June 2015). Since 2016 I add number of units when blocks are launched rather than when completed, source: site plans from BTO / SERS / SBF brochures.

Note: number of units is VARYING over time in blocks with 1/2/3-room built up to 1990, due to people who buy 2 flats and adjoin them.

Update frequency: I add number of units for new HDB blocks when new BTO are launched, but I will NOT offer updates for block built up to 1990, would take large amount of time to reached every block and benefits are insignificant. They will remain “as 2015”.

– Number of floors, units per floor, estimated number of units: 40% done in 2009 estimated from shadow length in satellite photos, before Google Streetview introduction, may have errors +/- 1-2 floors, additional 20% done accurately in 2010 by counting blocks in Google Streetview.
In 2014 I decided to complete database without number of floors because it was taking too much effort and I believed that it is no longer needed, precise number of units became available in HDB enquire status of upgrading programmes, no longer need to multiply floors with units per floor.
In 2015 a customer (Renata, see her comment) offered me a BONUS of $400 to complete number of floors for remaining 40% of blocks, but after doing half of job she told me to STOP THE JOB because her boss don’t want to pay.
I can resume the job and do remaining 20% if another customer is interested in paying a BONUS for completing number of floors. If do you want also to count the 40% estimated in 2009-2010, I can do if I have sufficient time, and you need to pay my time.

Virtual Singapore, a very detailed 3D map, was announced in 2015 to be ready in 2017. In August 2017 it was announced that will be ready in July 2018. This map will help me counting floors easier and accurately, so I won’t count any more floors on Google Streetview until Virtual Singapore will be launched for public.

What I can include or change in HDB Database

– Reorganize towns/precint structure – it’s important to know WHO are the potential customers and how they intend to use the data, to provide the RIGHT data structure.

– Remove number of floors – Floors can be only counted manually on Google StreetView thus I can save a lot of time by NOT adding number of floors.

– Remove condos and other private buildings from database, stick on HDB only.

– Make an API and sell access to database via monthly subscription instead of one-time payment. I don’t know how to make a subscription payment. Maybe some webdesigner with higher experience than mine can help?

– Anything else necessary? Your ideas are welcome!

History (short version)

I started compiling data voluntarily in 2009, purpose: personal research about housing density in selected estates and use the results in designing own apartments, I abandoned in 2011 after completing 40% because it required too much effort for a non-paid job.

Being a voluntary project done without any specific target, I changed my mind numerous times, making the database a MESS, table layout being different from town to town depending by the date each town was compiled.

In 2012 I published on website a SAMPLE with one town, as marketing experiment, to see who (if anyone) is interested. I was willing to re-compile entire database, this time as PAID service for professional use. I hoped people to tell their requirements or suggest changes in data structure, negotiate a price based by amount of effort needed to compile the data, then do the job… but I was facing with lack of feedback, LAZY customers do not inform me exactly what data are looking for!

Took 2 years to get a rough idea what people are looking for… and resumed working in July 2014, I done A LOT of changes in data structure, cleaned (most of) mess, completed whole Singapore in December 2014 in terms of block number, address and lease year. Number of units remained as done in 2011 (25% completed), the rest 75% will be done AFTER finding a customer willing to pay 50% before 50% after. The long-waited customer came in May 2015, work started, completing number of units for ALL 10,000+ blocks by June 2015! As customers requested, I added also postal codes in June 2015 and unit numbers in 2016. Feel free to request additional data!

Total: hundreds hours of work, and counting number of floors / units per floor require additional hours be to completed. Maybe too much time considering number of people willing to pay for such data.

I am Teoalida and I made this website since 2009 to show various works made by me, share knowledge and educational material, promote my services, and make new (business) friends.

I have a variety of hobbies, doing research, writing articles and making databases about real estate and cars, as well as designing own housing models. Also playing games that involve buildings.

I do not have a full-time job, I fill my time with part-time work at customer request or from personal interest and sell works via website, also doing voluntary work when I can help large number of people.

Feel free to contact me if you have any enquiry about AutoCAD design, architecture, real estate, research, data mining and analysis, or any other field covered by articles of this website.

All the articles, drawings, 3D models, Word and Excel databases shown on website, is the work of ONE person. Respect my copyright! Except the photographs, which are linked to the original source or the source is indicated, and HDB brochures.

Portfolio of works and services offered

While most people spend their free time playing games or chatting with friends, myself I developed many creative / artistic hobbies, since childhood I was playing in AutoCAD (3D modelling), Word and Excel, etc. They remain forever and can be shown on website. Even if some works have no real use (playing games isn’t an useless activity too?).

Most of pre-2012 works can be called pure hobbies, done from personal interest rather for a specific customer. Since 2012 I concentrate on working for people and abandoned most of non-paid works. Please leave comments, constructive critics appreciated more than praises.

AutoCAD design

My dad is using AutoCAD since 1994, I learned AutoCAD myself while watching him working and made my first drawing in 1998, over years I made numerous drawings from personal interest (hobby) as well as working for my parents or for customers who contacted me via this website.

Feel free to hire me for any CAD-related work, but I have most experience (and most customers) for architectural design. I can also do paper-to-CAD redrafting services.

Housing design – the Virtual City

I started self-studying architecture in 2008 and I made “Teoalida’s Virtual City” with over 20 apartment block concepts designed for high-density, dozens of apartment layouts from 30 sqm 2-room studio to 150 sqm 5-room and even 200+ sqm penthouses, based on an average 25-35 square meters per capita and 100 sqm average apartment size.

Although designed primarily for artistic purpose, they are fully livable homes and can be built.

(virtual city – because I am not a developer, I don’t have capital to build them).

Starting from 2010, I completed the Virtual City with landed houses too, detached, semi-detached, terraced and cluster houses (landed condominiums), small and large house plans plus 3D models, currently ranging from 50 sqm 2-bedroom to over 300 sqm and 6 bedrooms, inspired from different parts of world.

My experience was originally limited to making efficient floor plans and 3D models, but since 2013 I learned to make “construction drawings” by laws, fully-dimensioned floor plans, elevations, sections, as required for building permit.

Housing design – architectural services

The “Virtual City” 3D artistic hobby, have impressed people dreaming to build a house but also architects, turning into business. But contrary of what most people think, I never been able to earn enough from architecture. Lots of bad customers from third-world countries ask floor plans for free, do not want to pay, or pay too little, and headache projects.

There are several architecture software that do better job than AutoCAD, but the little money earned do not justify paying license.

Furthermore, database services turned to be more profitable, so it is pointless to work also in architecture, I decided in 2015 to NOT do any more projects, unless there is a special case.

DO NOT ask for house plans if you cannot pay my services!

Palace design in AutoCAD

Probably the most beautiful piece of art that I ever made in AutoCAD, this 3D model is a virtual reconstruction of a REAL, abandoned building, which today was left in ruins.

Originally designed in 2006, I improved it in 2009 and 2014 to show you my abilities of 3D modelling in AutoCAD and geometry design.

Furniture & interior design in AutoCAD

If I design buildings why I would not design 3D models of furniture and interior design too?

I do not have experience in interior design as high like the experience in architecture design, but… feel free to contact me and help me training!

Word books & Excel databases – data entry and web scraping services

I am using Word since 1997 and my dad encouraged me write book-like things, but I learned also Excel myself and since 2003 I am using it more than Word, and today working in Excel represent my primary source of income.

For many years, manual data entry in Excel (sourcing from books, as seen in this video, or manual copy-pasting from websites), was my only way of creating databases. A slow process which limited the size of the databases I could make. Even in this slow process I made about 40 databases about cars, geography, real estate, gaming, etc, from pure hobby.

Starting from 2015 I learned web scraping, meaning programming a software to visit a list of given pages, copy specific data and put it into a CSV spreadsheet automatically, allowing me to quickly create new databases and sell via my website.

– The Geography works, country area and population, list of cities, etc, made in 1998-2005 writing data manually from Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, abandoned after connecting to internet in 2005 and discovering Wikipedia. Improved and published on website for first time in 2015.

– The Music Database with song ratings according my personal preferences, one of the most USELESS things that I ever made, started in 2005 and as 2016 still expanding it.

– The Skyscrapers Database, made in 2015, one of my first databases where I used a program to automatically scrap data from a website.

Real estate database – data mining and analysis

One of my biggest research and data mining projects is the Singapore HDB Database, a table of 14000+ buildings with block number, street address, postal code, year build, number of units breakdown by flat type, upgrading programmes, etc. An original compilation of data centralized from multiple sources plus own research.

Started in 2009 from personal interest and put ON HOLD because the potential of turning into a business was under question, after discovering potential of Car Database, I resumed working at HDB Database in 2014 and finalized in 2015, after hundreds hours of work, it been purchased by several real estate companies.

Another project is the Hong Kong Housing Database, table with 1000+ public and private housing estates, made in 2011 for an insurance company (my first large project done at customer request and not as personal interest/hobby).

Car database – research and data analysis

Due to my passion for automobiles and obsession for doing research, tables and statistics, I started in 2003 a car encyclopedia, several lists in .DOC format and tables in .XLS format which allows you to sort and filter car models. This include a table with 20000+ car models, detailed with 50+ columns of technical data, which required over 1000 hours of work!

The hobby turned into a business since 2012. Every year, over 100 companies, primarily from Europe and America, looking for a complete, accurate and frequently updated vehicle database are buying my Excel tables. but only after extensive transformation to make my databases suitable for the unexpected audience.

Car design in AutoCAD

One of my older passions was for automobiles, since 2000 I designed side views of few real cars in Paint, also my own car models, in Paint and later in 3D in AutoCAD.

“Teoalida’s Cars” are not very modern or sport cars, but they are designed with as many details is possible, and rendered with all photo-realistic effects available in AutoCAD, to showcase my skills of 3D modelling.

I no longer design cars. Last car I designed was in 2007 (photo).

Mapping design

As related with architecture and urban explorer passion, I love to design maps too!

Between 2004 and 2007 I voluntarily designed artistic maps for my city and nearby towns, vectorial drawings in AutoCAD then colored in Paint, but this turned in a high-effort job with no much usage and generating too little income.

In 2009-2010 I also made a very basic map of Singapore in AutoCAD which I published on website in 2016 and we will see if there is sufficient demand from people to worth completing it with more details.

Housing around the World, real estate research, educational articles

I love exploring the world to study architecture, housing and living conditions, and write articles about this field. This hobby is usually NOT money-making.

Originally (2009) a page with general info about 3 countries, plus a page dedicated for Singapore HDB history, photos, statistics and floor plans, because it was my main source of inspiration for “Teoalida’s Virtual City” so I studied it extensively. One year later I made a similar study for Hong Kong, to design apartments inspired from it too.

The research expanded to over 20 pages for Housing in Singapore, 3 pages for Housing in Hong Kong, plus 11 pages with general info about various countries/regions. See also The 10 Greatest Cities in the World!

Gaming – The Sims housing

The favorite game for most architecture students!

Before starting designing buildings in AutoCAD in 2008, I practiced my urban planning ability even in The Sims 2 where in 2007-2008 I planned nice-looking big cities with apartment blocks (although non-functional), towers and houses, on Isla Segundo, Pleasant View, and Starling Springs (photo).

I keep playing the game and I also build functional homes, efficient or beautiful houses and apartments, and I play the game in normal way, life simulation in them. I offer over 40 houses for FREE download for The Sims 2 and 3.

Web design

I am not saying that I am a website expert, but I made my website myself without any professional help!

I have high SEO knowledge that helped my website to be on 1st page of Google for dozens of keywords and raising traffic from 100 visitors per day in early 2012 to 800 visitors per day in 2014.

I do not know PHP yet so I cannot make complex websites on custom-made platforms. In terms of coding and programming, my knowledge is limited to HTML, CSS and WordPress platform. 90% people do not even know these basic stuff, so feel free to contact me for any help related to website building, promotion, optimization, etc.

Frequently asked questions

Where is your office located? Can I pay you a visit?

I offer services ONLINE to people from all over the world, as typical freelancers do. I do not have any office and I do not meet customers. Even if you live just few kilometers away from me, I prefer to not meet in real life unless is absolutely necessary. If you need to hire someone to work at your office, or travel somewhere, I am NOT the right person for you.

What is all this mix of stuff on same website?
Are you designer, researcher, database provider, gamer, or…?

I am ALL OF THEM! This is PERSONAL website and my life is very diverse!

What is your profession / primary job?

I do not have any profession and I never had a full-time job, all my income is from part-time jobs and sales of my works.

I love working online, while doing architectural design for someone, I can do customer service job and sell a database to someone else. I have a diverse life and this is nicer than having a full-time job and do only one thing 8 hours every day. This allow me to chat with website visitors and offer a little free consultation without disturbing my “job”.

Not every day is money-productive. I also do voluntary work, but ONLY if is in benefit of large number of people and will improve website traffic (example: writing about real estate). If you solicit me to do a project just for YOU, you should PAY me!

Do you get paid to chat with people? Do you help people for free?

I am NOT employed, affiliated with any government or company, or get paid “to help people”. I am independent, this is my personal website and only YOU can pay if the consultation or services offered helped you!

Are you a company who offer services or this website is made as hobby?

LOL… only companies can offer services? Being an 1-person business there is no point to register as company. Most of what you see on website are hobbies, but if you define hobby = non-profit, my hobbies show my abilities and help me to get customers paying for various projects, so should be called business website. Am I right?

Currently I may not fully use the business potential of my hobbies. Suggestions for making money are welcome!

How much does this website cost?

$10 per year, the domain name.
$60 per year with 50% off, shared hosting (2012-2015).
$130 per year, the VPS from Hosting24 (since March 2015).
$200 per year, the VPS from VPS.us (since September 2016).
$200 per year, the chat software from Zopim.